Trust & Estate Litigation

Advancing Clients’ Interests

Papista & Papista strategically advocates for clients in trust and estate disputes involving will and trust contests, breach of fiduciary duties, accounting disputes, concerns with the management and administration of trust and estate, and fiduciary contests. Because of our complementary practice areas, we are particularly well-suited to handle cases that concern complex business, real estate, and accounting issues.

Trust and estate disputes tend to be emotional and can range from sophisticated trust interpretation and document analysis to claims involving personal property. With extensive experience in estate planning and administration and an in-depth understanding of Michigan probate and estate practice and procedure, we take a “team” approach to each case. Because of our longstanding ties to the metropolitan Detroit community, we are able to assemble expert resources in areas such as business valuations, tax analysis, and real estate appraisals to defend or prosecute on behalf of our clients.

We have successfully represented individuals and entities in a broad range of litigation including contested probate proceedings, contested fiduciary accounting, and the discovery and turnover of estate and trust assets. We have also successfully counseled clients in proceedings involving fiduciary duties and responsibilities, confidential relationships, investment performance, interests in closely held corporations, and undue influence and capacity issues.

Over the years, we have helped various clients – beneficiaries, fiduciaries, and others – obtain favorable outcomes in actions such as:

• Trust and Estate Litigation – Will and Trust Contests
• Undue Influence and Capacity Contests
• Trust Reformation and Modification
• Removal of Trustee, Personal Representative, and Fiduciaries
• Document Validity Analysis
•  Trust and Estate Administration
• Powers of Attorney Abuses
• Mediation/Arbitration
• Confidential Conflict Resolution